The National tribune., 1887-05-26
STICK TO THE "PRoDDER."
A COmrade Makes a Good Defense Of the BaYOast
M Weap0n.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Comrade J. 9.
Chandler speaking Of the "bayOnet nuisance
says the matter has been discussed in THE
NATIONAL TRIBUNE, but as / have been cut of
reach of your valuable paper for awhile have
seen nothing upon the subject But / cannot
hear an old friend denounced as a nuisance
without word in its defense. COmrade Chand-
Ter was wounded and went to the rear in May.
1854, thereby losing many opportunities Of
testing the value of the bayoDet in clearing
riae-pits. He says he was engaged n long while
in hospital, dressing wounds, and never saw a
wound inflicted by hostile bayonet;" but think
this is one of the strongest arguments IN favor
of the bayOnet The enemy knew what was up
when a column of infantry was rapidly adj
vancingwith fixed bayOnets, and got out of the
way.
Owing to the peculiar nature of hayonet
wound. a bullet is not half so fatal. Wonder If
COmTade Chandler dressed many saber woundsf
Yet a cavalryman would be about as we'll OF in
"a charge without his saber as dough boy"
without his " nuisance" attachment. | have
seen rihe-pits and breastwOTks carried with
bayonets and empty muskets. have seen
column fleeing before inferior numbers pursu-
ing with fixed bayOnets. / have seen equally
as good shooting with fixed as uuixed bayO-
nets All that is required is a little practice.
As for myself, / have generally done eloses
shooting with the bayOnet fixed, the piece be-
ing more evenly balanced. With weil-driiled
troops the musket or rifle is carried about as
conveniently with fixed as with uufxed bayO-
net, except in secure arms reverse arms
it is more conveniently carried in the scab-
bard.
No bayonet wounds, Ell? Well how many
wounds were received by the ships OF our
navy from the "prOw2" / know Of but
one, being one Of the crew of the U. 5. 5.
Minnesota when that rebel noudescript ap-
peared in Hampton Roads. / think no one
will question the amount of damage she was
capable of infiicting, and a soldier will or can
do equally as much in his way with the bayo-
net / would like to know what kind Of a
soldier would club his musket when be was
the happy possessor of a famous prodderP
Did the comrade ever roast piece OF SOW
belly" OH the end Of his prodder2 Ii not, he is
yet 70 taste one OF the most delicious mOrsels of
| food. lie woald be impossible for me to emu
meFate all the practical uses of the bayOnet, TO
say nothing of the ornamental. Just imagine
yourself one Of the Third Division, Sixth Corps,
| IN advance at Cold HarbOr with lines extended
and JOhnnies stubbornly "holding the fort, !"
/ and pouring q CALLING fire into your ranks.
Just cast your starbOard eye little 70 the rear.
| and behold two divisions. wearing respectively
/ the red cross and the white cross, marching
/ close at your heels, in solid column, with firm
/ step, heads erect, and fixed bayonets glittsring
/ In the sun like FURNISHED gold, and the john
| mics looking for place to git further" The
| silent elOqueaee OF those pieces of steel com
mands the rebels to get back while the Yanks
/ occupy those works which have been erected IN
/ the shady groves. Does the cOmrade desire
| a more beautiful OF substantial picture? i
| carried a prodder most OF the time from 1o0J
| to 1865, and found il both useful and orua-
mental. Had the powder and ball been dis
earded in 1851 by both armies the aggregate Oi
casualties would have been no greater and the
war would not have lasted half so long. j have
seen the comrades brigade go into fights, and
know il could stay there after getting in but
beg him not to discard the bayonet unless he
can give Us something equally good or better.
| How would he receive a charge of cavalry
without them ?-H. J. HAWKINS, Captain, 9th
Nd, LaGTaville, Md.